Pico Rivera: August 2007 Archives

With a link to Pico Rivera Mayor Ron Belke discussing the impact of the Maria Hicks murder on KABC 790 last monday.

There's not a lot of details available yet. But here's what we know so far:
Shooting death approximately 8 p.m.Thursday in the 4100 block of Maris near Beverly Boulevard. Homicide still on scene at 4 a.m. Friday.

A funeral is scheduled in Pico Rivera today for Maria Hicks. The funeral will be held at St. Francis Xavier on Acacia.
The 57-year-old grandmother was apparently killed by taggers after she followed one who had painted a wall near her home last Friday.
Three people have been arrested, but detectives are on the look out for more.
Today's story on the case is here.

More loose ends:
The John and Ken Show on KFI devoted their 5:30 p.m. segment to the case Wednesday. Callers were asked to talk about times they attempted to stop a crime in their neighborhood. I dont' remember any of the callers saying they had suffered consequences from intervening. John Kobylt was on vacation in Alaska, so it was up to Ken Chiampou to field the three or four callers.
Bill Handel's "Handel on the News" show at 6 a.m. Thursday briefly mentioned the story. That's probably because the Times ran the Hicks story on its front page Thursday ...

The Whittier Daily news reports that three have been arrested in connection with the murder of Maria Hicks. Deputies are looking for some other bad guy associated with the case.
By the way, as you can see this photo was originally displayed as part of a report on the case done by Channels 2 and 9.

Matthew Hicks holds a thirty-year-old picture of his mother Maria
Hicks, 57, and his sister Melinda Wall, Monday, August 13, 2007 in
Pico Rivera. Hicks died Monday after being shot in her Pico Rivera
neighborhood Friday night after catching a male adult in the act of
tagging a wall. Hicks was shot by a back up vehicle after attempting
to follow the tagger with her car. (SGVN Staff Photo by Sarah
Reingewirtz/SWCITY)

Got this email Sunday from a self described gadfly in Pico Rivera. Obviously, the stats discussed are anecdotal, but we'll look into this. FYI, I can' tell you how many mornings I've called the Pico Sheriff's station asking what's up and getting the standard, "Everything's perfect here in Pico Rivera" reply from a watch commander.
Here's the email (yes it's short)

What about Pico Rivera, crime has risen steadily over the last four years.
There are no stats or stories just wondering why?